Blood-brain barrier permeable peptide compositions comprising a vab domain of a camelid single domain heavy chain antibody against an amyloid-beta peptide

ABSTRACT

Blood-brain barrier permeable peptide compositions that contain variable antigen binding domains from camelid and/or shark heavy-chain only single-domain antibodies are described. The variable antigen binding domains of the peptide compositions bind to therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers in the central nervous system, such as the amyloid-beta peptide biomarker for Alzheimer&#39;s disease. The peptide compositions contain constant domains from human IgG, camelid IgG, and/or shark IgNAR. The peptide compositions include heavy-chain only single-domain antibodies and compositions with one or more variable antigen binding domain bound to one or more constant domains.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application 61/631,731, filed Jan. 9, 2012, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present disclosure.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Feb. 12, 2013, is named 095299-0110_SL.txt and is 8,591 bytes in size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the discovery of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeable peptide compositions and antibody-mimics derived from camelid and shark heavy-chain only antibodies, their analogs, and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. The Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been an impediment to successful drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). As a consequence, most diseases of the brain cannot be diagnosed and treated. Typically, only small-molecule drugs cross the BBB. That is why, for too long, the process of drug discovery has been centered on designing, developing and screening small molecules with activity at a particular site or receptor in the brain. However, small-molecule drugs for CNS targets have limitations, which include: i) non-specific targeting; ii) non-specific organ distribution; iii) low therapeutic indices; iv) development of drug resistance shortly after initial treatment; v) only a small percentage of small-molecule drugs cross the BBB and vi) only 1% of the total number of drugs were active in the CNS [Pardridge W M, NeuroRX, 2 (1), 3 (2006)]. In addition, only a few diseases of the brain, such as depression, chronic pain, and epilepsy, respond to this category of small molecules. Most serious diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer's disease (AD); Parkinson's disease (PD); brain cancer; stroke; brain and spinal cord injury; HIV infection of the brain; Huntington disease; multiple sclerosis (MS); and many childhood inborn genetic errors affecting the brain do not respond to small molecule drugs, irrespective of the lipid solubility of the drug. A handful of FDA approved small molecule drugs, e.g. Aricept (AD), Cognex (AD), Exelon (AD), Razadyne (AD), and Levodopa (PD), for neurodegenerative diseases that slow down the disease symptoms in some patients stop working after a period of time, leaving the patient to helplessly succumb to his/her disease.

Development of large molecule drugs is generally discouraged because of their typically poor BBB permeability. Many potential large molecule modern drugs, such as, engineered proteins (e.g.: nerve growth factors), antibodies, genes, vectors, micro-RNA, siRNA, oligonucleotides and ribozymes, which are otherwise effective in ex-vivo studies, have not been developed for clinical use due to a failure to deliver them in sufficient quantity into the CNS. Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been known for more than a century and despite enormous research efforts both by private sectors and government institutes, there are no diagnostics or curative treatments for diseases of the CNS. More than 55 million people (and 6.5 million Americans in the US) are afflicted worldwide by neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are the most common forms of degenerative dementia). These troubling statistics demonstrate an unmet need of developing technologies to solve the issues of diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative and tumor diseases in the CNS.

The BBB is formed by tight junctions between the cerebral endothelial cells, which are produced by the interaction of several transmembrane proteins that project into and seal the paracellular pathways (FIG. 1). The interaction of these junctional proteins, particularly, occludin and claudin, is complex and effectively blocks an aqueous route of free diffusion for polar solutes from blood along these potential paracellular pathways and thus denies these solutes free access to cerebrospinal fluid. Major scientific efforts over the years have led to the development of the following methods to cross the BBB: (i) The use of liposomes or other charged lipid formulations, which have limited complex stability in serum and high toxicity over time (Whittlessey K J et al., Biomaterials, 27, 2477 (2006)); (ii) Electroporation-based techniques which are only effective when performed during a specific window of development in healthy cells, with eventual loss of expression or bioactivity (Gartner et al., Methods Enzymology 406, 374 (2006)), and (iii) Viral-based vectors and fusions which have shown only limited efficacy in humans and animals while raising a number of safety concerns, and typically requiring invasive procedures such as direct injection into the brain to achieve targeted delivery (Luo D, Nat Biotechol, 18 (8), 893 (2000)). Thus, there is an unmet need to develop novel technologies to breach the BBB.

B. Strategies for Drug Delivery Across the Blood-Brain Barrier

Invasive strategies such as intra-cerebroventricular infusion, convection-enhanced delivery, and intra-cerebral Injection are covered in the following references: Pardridge W M, Pharma Res., 24, 1733 (2007); Pardridge W M, Neuro RX, 2, 3 (2005); Vandergrift W A, et al., Neurosurg Focus, 20, E10 (2006); Funk L K, et al., Cancer Res., 58, 672 (1998); Marks W J, et al., Lancet Neurol, 7, 400 (2008); and Herzog C D, et al., Mov. Disord, 22, 1124 (2007).

Disruption of the BBB using bradykynin analogues, ultrasound, and osmotic pressure are covered in the following references: Borlogan C V, et al., Brain Research Bulletin, 60, 2970306 (2003); Hynynen K, et al., J. Neurosurg., 105, 445 (2006); and Fortin D, et al., Cancer, 109, 751 (2007).

Physiological approaches involving transporter-mediated delivery, receptor-mediated transcytosis, adsorptive-mediated transcytosis are covered in the following references: Allen D D, et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 304, 1268 (2003); Coloma M J, et al., Pharm Res, 17, 266 (2000); Jones A R, et al., Pharma Res, 24, 1759 (2007); Boada R J, et al., Biotech Bioeng, 100, 387 (2007); Pardridge W M, Pharma Res, 3, 90 (2003); Zhang Y, et al., J. Pharmaco Exp Therap, 313, 1075 (2005); and Zhang Y, et al, Brain Res, 1111, 227 (2006).

Pharmacological approaches involving chemical modification of drugs to lipophilic molecules or encapsulation into liposomes are covered by the following references: Bradley M O, Webb N L, et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 7, 3229 (2001); Lipinski C A, Lombardo F, et al., Adv. Drug Deliv Rev., 46, 3 (2001); Huwyler J, et al., J. Pharmacol Exp Ther, 282, 1541 (1997); Madrid Y, et al., Adv Pharmacol, 22, 299 (1991); Huwyler J, Wu D, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 14164 (1996); Swada G A, et al., J. Pharmacol Exp Ther, 288, 1327 (1999); and Shashoua V E, et al., Life Sci., 58, 1347 (1996).

Resistance to opsonization and nanoparticles based drug delivery across the BBB, whereby the drug is passively adsorbed on to the particles, is covered by following references: Greiling W, Ehrlich P, Verlag E, Dusseldorf, Germany, p. 48, 1954; Couvreur P, Kante B, et al., J. Pharm Pharmacol, 31, 331 (1979); Douglas S J, et al., J. Colloid. Interface Sci, 101, 149 (1984); Douglas S J, et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci., 103, 154 (1985); Khanna S C, Speiser P, J. Pharm. Sci, 58, 1114 (1969); Khanna S C, et al., J. Pharm. Sci, 59, 614 (1970); Sugibayashi K, et al., J. Pharm. Dyn, 2, 350 (1979b); Brasseur F, Couvreur P. et al., Actinomycin D absorbed on polymethylcyanoacrylate: increased efficiency against an experimental tumor, Eur. J. Cancer, 16, 1441 (1980); Widder K J, et al., Eur. J. Cancer, 19, 141 (1983); Couvreur P, et al., Toxicity of polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles II. Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles, J. Pharma Sci, 71, 790 (1982); Couvreur P, et al., Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles as drug carrier for antitumor agents, Polymeric Nanoparticles and Microspheres, CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 27-93 (1986); Grislain L, Couvreur P, et al., Pharmacokinetics and distribution of a biodegradable drug-carrier, Int. J. Pharm., 15, 335 (1983); Mukherjee P, et al., Potential therapeutic applications of gold nanoparticles in BCLL, J. Nanobiotechnology, 5, 4 (2007); Maeda H and Matsumura Y, Tumoritropic and lymphotropic principles of macromolecular drugs, Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Syst., 6, 193 (1989); Kaftan, J et al., Phase I clinical trial and pharmacokinetic evaluation of doxorubicin carried by polyisohexylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles, Invest. New Drugs, 10, 191 (1992); Kreuter J, Naoparticles—A historical perspective, Int. J. Pharm., 331, 1 (2007); Alyautdin R, et al., Analgesic activity of the hexapeptide dalargin adsorbed on the surface of polysorbate 80-coated poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles. Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm., 41, 44 (1995); Kreuter J, Alyautdin R, et al., Passage of peptides through the blood-brain barrier with colloidal polymer particles (nanoparticles), Brain Res., 674, 171 (1995); Alyautdin R N et al., Delivery of loperamide across the blood-brain barrier with polysorbate 80-coated polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles, Pharm. Res., 14, 325 (1997); Schroeder U, et al., Body distribution of ³H-labeled dalargin bound to polybutylcyanoacrylate, Life Sci., 66, 495 (2000); Alyautdin R N et al., Significant entry of tubocurarine into the brain of rats by absorption to polysorbate 80-coated polybutyl-cyanoacrylate nanoparticles: an in situ brain perfusion study, J. Microencapsul., 15, 67 (1998); Gulyaev A E, Gelperina S E, et al., Significant transport of doxorubicin into the brain with polysorbate 80-coated nanoparticles, Pharm. Res., 16, 1564 (1999); Steiniger S C J, Kreuter J, et al., Chemotherapy of glioblastoma in rats using doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles, Int. J. Cancer, 109, 759 (2004); Hekmatara T, et al., Efficient systemic therapy of rat glioblastoma by nanoparticle-bound doxorubicin is due to antiangiogenic effects, Clin. Neuropath., 28, 153 (2009); Gelperina S E, et al., Toxicological studies of doxorubicin bound to polysorbate 80-coated polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles in healthy rats and rats with intracranial glioblastoma, Toxicol. Lett., 126, 131 (2002); Couvreur P, et al., J. Pharm. Sci, 71, 790 (1982); Kreuter J, et al., Apolipoprotein-mediated transport of nanoparticles-bound drugs across the blood-brain barrier, J. Drug Targeting, 10, 317 (2002); Davis S S, Biomedical applications of nanotechnology-implications for drug targeting and gene therapy, Tibtech, 15, 217 (1997); Moghimi S M, Szebeni J, Stealth liposome and long circulating nanoparticles: Critical issues in pharmacokinetics, opsonization and protein-binding properties, Progress in Lipid Research, 42, 463 (2003); Arvizo R R, et al., Modulating pharmacokinetics, tumor uptake and biodistribution by engineered nanoparticles, PLos One, 6, e24374 (2011); Kurakhmaeva K B, et al., Brain targeting of nerve growth factor using polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles, J. Drug Targeting, 17, 564 (2009); and Reukov V, et al., Proteins conjugated to polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles as potential neuroprotective agents, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 108, 243 (2010).

Shortcomings of Nanoparticles. Although nanoparticles have made significant contributions to the field of medical sciences, most of the published studies have been conducted with drugs non-covalently coated to nanoparticles, thereby perhaps not realizing the full potential of nanomedicine.

C. Single-Domain Antibodies

In 1983 it was reported that the sera of camelid contained two different kinds of immunoglobulin: conventional heterodimeric IgGs composed of heavy and light chains, and unconventional IgGs without the light chains [Grover Y P, et al., Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 20, 238 (1983)]. Grover et al. demonstrated the presence of three bands which were designated as IgM, IgA, and a broad heterogeneous band containing a mixture of IgG complexes. One can speculate that the broad band these authors observed was due to the presence of mixture of normal IgG with a molecular weight (MW) of ˜160 KDa and heavy-chain IgG, without the light chain, with a MW of ˜80 KDa. However, since these authors did not use a proper sizing marker, the broad IgGs band could not be satisfactorily characterized.

Ungar-Waron et al. disclosed a SDS-PAGE analysis of camelid IgGs mixture treated with and without 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) [Israel J. Vet. Medicine, 43 (3), 198 (1987)]. In the absence of 2-ME, IgG-complex, obtained from camelid serum, dissociated into two components with approximate molecular weight (MW) of 160 KDa (Conventional IgG) and ˜100 KDa (New IgG) on SDS-PAGE. However, in the presence of 2-ME, three bands of MW 55 KDa (gamma-like heavy-chain), 22 KDa (Light chain) and an additional protein band of 42 KDa (now known as heavy-chain only camelid antibody band without the light chains) were seen.

Subsequently, Azwai et al. from University of Liverpool, UK, independently confirmed the presence of an additional IgG band in camelid serums with a molecular weight of 42 KDa by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis under reducing conditions [Azwai, S. M., et al., J. Comp. Path., 109, 187 (1993)].

Hamers-Casterman et al. also reported similar findings, confirming independently the presence of 42 KDa IgG subclass in the sera of camelids upon SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing conditions [Hamers-Casterman et al., Nature, 363, 446 (1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,079].

Thus, two types of antibodies exist in camels, dromedaries, and llamas: one a conventional hetero-tetramer having two heavy and two light chains (MW ˜160 KDa), and the other consisting of only two heavy chains, devoid of light chains (MW ˜80 to 90 KDa).

In addition to camelid antibodies having only two heavy chains and devoid of light chains, a distinctly unconventional antibody isotype was identified in the serum of nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and wobbegong sharks (Orectolobus maculatus). The antibody was called the Ig new antigen receptors (IgNARs). They are disulfide-bonded homodimers consisting of five constant domains (CNAR) and one variable domain (VNAR). There is no light chain, and the individual variable domains are independent in solution and do not appear to associate across a hydrophobic interface [Greenberg A S, Avila D, Hughes M, Hughes A, McKinney E, Flajnik M F, Nature 374, 168 (1995); Nuttall S D, Krishnan U V, Hattarki M, De Gori R, Irving R A, Hudson P J, Mol. Immunol., 38, 313 (2001), Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B., 15, 225 (1973)]. There are three different types of IgNARs characterized by their time of appearance in shark development, and by their disulfide bond pattern [Diaz M, Stanfield R L, Greenberg A S, Flajnik, M F, Immunogenetics, 54, 501 (2002); Nuttall S D, Krishnan U V, Doughty L, Pearson K, Ryan M T, Hoogenraad N J, Hattarki M, Carmichael J A, Irving R A, Hudson P J, Eur. J. Biochem. 270, 3543 (2003)].

The natural hetero-tetrameric structure of antibodies exists in humans and most animals. The heavy-chain only dimer structure is considered natural characteristic of camelids and sharks [Holliger P, Hudson P J, Nature Biotechnology, 23, 1126 (2005)]. These antibodies are relatively simple molecules but with unique characteristics. Since the variable antigen binding (Vab) site binds its antigen only through the heavy-chain, these antibodies are also known as single-domain antibodies (sd-Abs). Their size is about one-half the size of traditional tetrameric antibodies, hence a lower molecular weight (˜80 KDa to 90 KDa), with similar antigen binding affinity, but with water solubility 100- to 1000-fold higher than conventional antibodies.

Another characteristic of heavy-chain antibodies derived from sharks and camelids is that they have very high thermal stability compared to the conventional mAbs. For example, camelid antibodies can maintain their antigen binding ability even at 90° C. [Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 141, 7 (1999)]. Furthermore, complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of camelid Vab region is longer, comprising 16-21 amino acids, than the CDR3 of mouse VH region, comprising 9 amino acids [Protein Engineering, 7, 1129 (1994)]. The larger length of CDR3 of camelid Vab region is responsible for higher diversity of antibody repertoire of camelid antibodies compared to conventional antibodies.

In addition to being devoid of light chains, the camelid heavy-chain antibodies also lack the first domain of the constant region called CH1, though the shark antibodies do have a CH1 domain and two additional constant domains, CH4 and CH5 [Nature Biotech. 23, 1126 (2005)]. Furthermore, the hinge regions (HRs) of camelid and shark antibodies have an amino acid sequence different from that of normal heterotetrameric conventional antibodies [Muyldermans S, Reviews in Mol. Biotech., 74, 277 (2001)]. Without the light chain, these heavy-chain antibodies bind to their antigens by one single domain, the variable antigen-binding domain of the heavy-chain immunoglobulin, which is referred to as Vab in this application (VHH in the literature), to distinguish it from the variable domain VH of the conventional antibodies.

The single-domain Vab is surprisingly stable by itself, without having to be attached to the heavy-chain. This smallest intact and independently functional antigen-binding fragment Vab, with a molecular weight of ˜12-15 KDa, derived from a functional heavy-chain only full length IgG, is referred to as a “nanobody” In the literature [Muyldermans S, Reviews in Mol. Biotech., 74, 277 (2001)].

The genes encoding these full length single-domain heavy-chain antibodies and the antibody-antigen binding fragment Vab (camelid and shark) can be cloned in phage display vectors, and selection of antigen binders by panning and expression of selected Vab in bacteria offer a very good alternative procedure to produce these antibodies on a large scale. Also, only one domain has to be cloned and expressed to produce in vivo an intact, matured antigen-binding fragment.

There are structural differences between the variable regions of single domain antibodies and conventional antibodies. Conventional antibodies have three constant domains while camelid has two and shark has five constant domains. The largest structural difference is, however, found between a VH (conventional antibodies) and Vab (heavy-chain only antibodies of camelid and shark) (see below) at the hypervariable regions. Camelid Vab and shark V-NAR domains each display surface loops which are larger than for conventional murine and human IgGs, and are able to penetrate cavities in target antigens, such as enzyme active sites and canyons in viral and infectious disease biomarkers [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 101, 12444 (2004); Proteins, 55, 187 (2005)]. In human and mouse the VH loops are folded in a limited number of canonical structures. In contrast, the antigen binding loop of Vab possess many deviations of these canonical structures that specifically bind into such active sites, therefore, represent powerful tool to modulate biological activities [K. Decanniere et al., Structure, 7, 361 (2000)]. The high incidence of amino acid insertions or deletions, in or adjacent to first and second antigen-binding loops of Vab will undoubtedly diversify, even further, the possible antigen-binding loop conformations.

Though there are structural differences between camelid and shark parent heavy-chain antibodies, the antigen-antibody binding domains, Vab and V-NAR, respectively, are similar. The chemical and/or protease digestion of camelid and shark antibodies results in Vab and V-NAR domains, with similar binding affinities to the target antigens [Nature Biotech., 23, 1126 (2005)].

Other structural differences are due to the hydrophilic amino acid residues which are scattered throughout the primary structure of Vab domain. These amino acid substitutions are, for example, L45R, L45C, V37Y, G44E, and W47G Therefore, the solubility of Vab is much higher than the Fab fragment of conventional mouse and human antibodies.

Another characteristic feature of the structure of camelid Vab and shark V-NAR is that it often contains a cysteine residue in the CDR3 in addition to cysteines that normally exist at positions 22 and 92 of the variable region. The cysteine residues in CDR3 form S—S bonds with other cysteines in the vicinity of CDR1 or CDR2 [Protein Engineering, 7, 1129 (1994)]. CDR1 and CDR2 are determined by the germline V gene. They play important roles together with CDR3 in antigenic binding [Nature Structural Biol., 9, 803 (1996); J. Mol. Biol., 311, 123 (2001)]. Like camelid CDR3, shark also has elongated CDR3 regions comprising of 16-27 amino acids residues [Eur. J. Immunol., 35, 936 (2005)].

The germlines of dromedaries and llamas are classified according to the length of CDR2 and cysteine positions in the V region [Nguyen et al., EMBO J., 19, 921 (2000); Harmsen et al., Mol. Immun., 37, 579 (2000)].

Immunization of camelids with enzymes generates heavy-chain antibodies (HCAb) significant proportions of which are known to act as competitive enzyme inhibitors that interact with the cavity of the active site [M. Lauwereys et al., EMBO, J. 17, 3512 (1998)]. In contrast, the conventional antibodies that are competitive enzyme inhibitors cannot bind into large cavities on the antigen surface. Camelid antibodies, therefore, recognize unique epitopes that are out of reach for conventional antibodies.

Production of inhibitory recombinant Vab that bind specifically into cavities on the surface of variety of enzymes, namely, lysozyme, carbonic anhydrase, alfa-amylase, and beta-lactamase has been achieved [M. Lauwereys, et al., EMBO, J. 17, 3512 (1998)]. Hepatitis C protease inhibitor from the camelised human VH has been isolated against an 11 amino. Eng. acid sequence of the viral protease [F. Martin et al., Prot, 10, 607 (1997)].

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A. Single-Domain Heavy-Chain Only Antibodies and Peptide Compositions Thereof

The present invention is intended to meet a large unmet medical need for non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In a first aspect, the present invention teaches peptide compositions of camelid and/or shark single-domain heavy-chain only antibodies and their synthetic peptide composition analogs for breaching the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and cell membranes for diagnosing and/or treating human diseases, including but not limited to, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and cancer. FIG. 2 presents the peptide composition structures.

This invention covers single-domain antibodies, and their synthetic peptide composition analogs cross the BBB into the central nervous system. Their general configuration is shown by structures 1 and 2 in FIG. 2. Each structure in FIG. 2 contains one or two Vab domains, and each Vab domain is derived from an antigen-sdAb of camelid (Vab), shark (V-NAR), or combinations thereof.

B. Production of Single-Domain Antibodies

In a second aspect, the invention is also how single-domain antibodies of structures 1 and 2 from FIG. 2 can be produced from the serum of camelids or sharks immunized by an immunogen involved in a CNS disease-causing process. These immunogens can be produced by chemical synthesis and conjugation to BSA or KLH for immunization, or through recombinant DNA technology.

1. Cloning the Single Heavy-Chain from Single-Domain Antibodies

The invention in which the single heavy-chain from a single-domain antibody can be produced by the techniques of the recombinant DNA technology involving isolation of peripheral blood lymphocytes, extracting total mRNA, reverse transcription to cDNA encoding the peptide composition 2a (FIG. 2, Structure 2, Tables 2-6, variant: R1=1, R2=4, R3=2, L1=1, L2=1, R4=1, R5=1, X=1, Y=1), amplification of the cDNA by PCR, cloning in an appropriate vector, recovering and sequencing the cloned cDNA, cloning the sequenced fragment in a phase vector, transforming the host E. coli cells, and purifying the expressed protein, followed by ELISA and Western blot analysis.

The invention in which the PCR primers are represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2.

5′----------------------------------------------3′ (SEQ ID NO: 1) CAG GTT CAG CTT GTT GCT TCT GGT (SEQ ID NO: 2) TTT ACC AGG AGA AAG AGA AAG

The invention in which a second round of PCR is done with primers containing built in restriction sites such as Xho and Not1 compatible with commercially available cloning vectors such as SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4.

5′----------------------------------------------3′ (SEQ ID NO: 3) CTCGAG-CAG GTT CAG CTT GTT GCT TCT GGT (SEQ ID NO: 4) GCGGCCGC-TTT ACC AGG AGA AAG AGA AAG

The invention in which cDNA sequence encoding the single heavy-chain of camelid antibody 2a is represented by the Camelid heavy-chain of single-domain antibody in SEQ ID NO: 5. The lower-case letters are nucleotides at variable positions.

(SEQ ID NO: 5) 5′----------- Variable Antigen-Binding Domain (Vab)---------------------------------- 3′ (1) CAG GTT CAG CTT GTT GCT TCT GGT GGT GGC TCT GTT CAG GCT GGT GGT TCT CTT CGT CTT (61) TCT TGT GCT GCT TCT GGT TAT ACT TTT TCT TCT TAT CCT ATG ggt tgg TAT CGT ggt gct (121) CCT ggt AAA GAA tgt GAA CTT TCT gct CGT ATT TTT TCT GAT ggt TCT gct AAT TAT gct (181) GAT TCT GTT AAA ggt CGT TTT act ATT TCT CGT GAT AAT gct gct AAT act gct TAT CTT (241) ggt ATG GAT TCT CTT AAA CCT GAA GAT act gct GTT TAT TAT tgt gct gct ggt CCT ggt (301) TCT ggt AAA CTT GTT GTT gct ggt CGT act tgt TAT ggt CCT AAT TAT TGG ggt ggc ggt (361) act CAG GTT act GTT TCT TCT (381) Hinge-Region (HR) (382) GAA CCT AAA ATT CCT CAG CCT CAG CCT AAA CCT CAG CCT CAG CCT CAG CCT CAG CCT AAA (442) CCT CAG CCT AAA CCT GAA CCT GAA tgt act tgt CCT AAA tgc CCT (486) Constant Domain-2 (CH2) (487) gct CCT CCT GTT gcc ggc CCT TCT GTT TTT CTT TTT CCT CCT AAA CCT AAA GAT act CTT (547) ATG ATT TCT CGT act CCT GAA GTT act tgt GTT GTT GTT GAT GTT TCT cat GAA GAT CCT (607) GAA GTT CAG TTT AAT TGG TAT GTT GAT ggt GTT GAA GTT cat AAT gcc AAA act AAA CCT (667) CGT GAA GAA CAG TTT AAT TCT act TTT CGT GTT GTT TCT GTT CTT act GTT GTT cat CAG (727) GAT TGG CTT AAT ggt AAA GAA TAT AAA tgt AAA GTT TCT AAT AAA ggt CTT CCT gct CCT (787) ATT GAA AAA act ATT TCT AAA act AAA (813) Constant Domain-3 (CH3) (814) ggc CAG CCT CGT GAA CCT CAG GTT TAT act CTT CCT CCT TCT CGT GAA GAA ATG act AAA (874) AAT CAG GTT TCT CTT act tgt CTT GTT AAA ggt TTT TAT CCT TCT GAT ATT GTT GAA TGG (934) GAA TCT AAT ggc CAG CCT GAA AAT AAT TAT AAA act act CCT CCT ATG CTT GAT TCT GAT (994) ggt TCT TTT TTT CTT TAT TCT AAA CTT act GTT GAT AAA TCT CGT TgG CAG CAG ggt AAT (1054) GTT TTT TCT tgt TCT GTT ATG cat GAA gct CTT cat AAT cat TAT act CAG AAA TCT CTT (1114) TCT CTT TCT CCT ggt AAA (1131)

More specifically, the invention in which the immunogen is derived from amyloid-peptide-42 (Aβ-42) (SEQ ID: 6), a constituent of amyloid-plaque found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients.

SEQ ID NO: 6 D A E F R H D S G Y E V H H Q K L V F F A E D V G S N K G A I I G L M V G G V V I A

Still more specifically, the immunogen is one of the following peptide sequences derived from the Aβ1-42 peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 7) D A E F H R D S G Y E V H H Q K L V F F A E D V G S N K G A I I G L M C (SEQ ID NO: 8) C D A E F H R D S G Y E V H H Q K (SEQ ID NO: 9) C E D V G S N K G A I I G L M (SEQ ID NO: 10) D A E F H R D S G Y E V H H Q K

2. Target Biomarkers for Single-Domain Antibodies

The invention, wherein the camelid, shark, or a combination thereof, single-domain antibody configuration 1 and 2 in FIG. 2 are generated from camelids and/or sharks immunized with immunogen(s) selected from the group of proteins or their metabolic products implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including but not limited to, proteins described below.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Biomarkers. Aβ, Tau protein, Tau-kinases (tyrosine kinase Fyn, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), cyclin-dependent protein-kinase-5, casein kinase-1, protein kinase-A, protein kinase-C, calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein-kinase-II, MAPK), ApoE4, beta-secretase, gamma-secretase, translocase of the outer membrane (TOM), TDP43, ApoE4, c-terminal of ApoE4, GSK-3, acetylcholinesterase, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), APP (amyloid precursor protein), or ALZAS.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) Biomarkers. Alpha-synuclein (Natural and mutant), LRRK2 (Natural and mutant), Parkin, DJ-1, Pink1, or Synphilin.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Biomarkers. VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide), Factor H, NF-L (neurofilament-light chain), NF-H (neurofilament-heavy chain), Tau, Aβ-42, Antitubulin, NSE (neuron-specific enolase), Apo-E, GAP-43 (growth-associated protein 43), 24S—OH-chol (24S-hydroxycholesterol), Protein 14-3-3, sVCAM (solublevascular cell adhesion molecule), or sPECAM (soluble platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule).

Glioblastoma Biomarkers. EGFR, HER2, PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), FGFR (fibroblast growth factor receptor), STATs (signal transducers and activators of transcription), GDNF (glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor), mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), TGF-beta (transforming growth factor beta), P13K, Ras, Raf, MAPK, AKT (aka: Protein Kinase B), MAPK, TIMP1, CD133, SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1), TP53, PTEN, TMS1, IDH1, NF1, or IL-10.

Huntington's Disease Biomarkers. H2aFY, mutant HTT, 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine, Copper-Zn Superoxide Dismutase, A2a receptor, transglutaminase, or poly-glutamine.

3. Camelid Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb Sequence

The invention in which the amino-acid sequence of the single polypeptide heavy-chain is represented by the amino acid sequence of peptide composition 2a (SEQ ID NO: 11, the amino acid sequence of a camelid single-domain heavy-chain only antibody), which is a single chain from peptide composition 1a (FIG. 2, structure 1, R=1), a camelid antibody.

Amino Acid Sequence of Camelid Single-Domain Heavy-Chain Only Antibody (Peptide Composition 2a, SEQ ID: 11) Variable Antigen-Binding Domain (Vab) (1) QVQLVASGGG SVQAGGSLRL SCAASGYTFS SYPMGWYRGA PGKECELSAR IFSDGSANYA DSVKGRFTIS RDNAANTAYL GMDSLKPEDT ADYYCAAGPG SGKLVVAGRT CYGPNYWGGG TQVTVSS (127) Hinge-Region (HR) (128) EPK IPQPQPKPQP QPQPQPKPQP KPEPECTCPK CP (162) Constant Region 2 (163) APPVAGPSVF LFPPKPKDTL MISRTPEVTC VVVDVSHEDP EVQFNWYVDG VEVHNAKTKP REEQFNSTFR VVSVLTVVHQ DWLNGKEYKC KVSNKGLPAP IEKTISKTK (272) Constant Region 3 (273) G QPREPQVYTL PPSREEMTKN QVSLTCLVKG FYPSDISVEW ESNGQPENNY KTTPPMLDSD GSFFLYSKLT VDKSRWQQGN VFSCSVMHEA LHNHYTQKSL SLSPGK (378) C. Peptide Compositions of Structure 1 in FIG. 2

The invention in which variable antigen-binding domains of heavy-chain single-domain shark and/or camelid antibodies are linked together through to a constant domain CH2 of human IgG, camelid IgG, or shark IgNAR which is linked to a constant domain CH3 of human IgG camelid IgG or shark IgNAR to form bivalent Vab domains of single-domain heavy-chain only antibody of the general structure of structure 1 in FIG. 2. Exemplary variants of the “R” group in structure 1 from FIG. 2 are listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Variants of R from Structure 1 in FIG. 2 R Variant Description 1 H 2 a detectable label 3 a short-lived radioisotope including, but not limited to, as ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ⁷⁷Br, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁹⁷Ru, ⁹⁹Tc, ¹¹¹In or ⁸⁹Zr introduced either using a reagent such as ¹²⁴I-Bolton Hunker or ¹²⁴I—SIB or a metal chelator 4 a long-lived radionisotope including, but not limited to, as ¹³¹I, ²¹¹At, ³²P, ⁴⁷Sc, ⁶⁷Cu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁴⁰la, ¹¹¹Ag, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ¹⁰⁹Pd, ¹⁰⁹Au for therapeutic applications, with or without a labeling entity, such as a bifunctional reagent (Bolton Hunter or SIB reagent) or a bifunctional chelating agent between the polypeptide and the radionuclide 5 NH—CO—C₆H₄-Iodine-124, 125, 111, 113, 112, or 131 6 a fluorophore including, but no limited to, FITC and other fluorescein derivatives, Texas-Red, rhodamine, Cy3, Cy5, thioflavin dyes, AlexaFluor, 1,4-Bis(4′-aminostyryl)-2- dimethoxy-benzene (BDB; Formula 1a), [5′- (4-methoxyphenyl)[2,2′-bithiophen]-5yl]methylene]- propanedinitrile (Formula 1b) [5′-(4-methoxyphenyl) [2,2′-bithiopehen]-5yl]-aldehyde (Formula 1c), or fluorophore analogs thereof 7 a therapeutic agent, toxin, hormone, or peptide 8 a protein, such as an enzyme 9 an antibody, the Fc region of IgGs, sd-insulin-Ab 1 (Structure 1 in FIG. 2) sd-insulin-Ab 2 (Structure 2 in FIG. 2), sd- transferrin-Ab 1, or sd-transferrin-Ab 2 10 biotin, digoxigenin, avidin, or streptavidin 11 fused or covalently bound to a protein that recognizes or binds to the receptors on endothelial cells that form the BBB, including, but not limited to, insulin, transferrin, Apo-B, Apo-E, such as Apo-E4, Apo-E Receptor Binding Fragment, FC5, FC44, substrate for RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products), substrate for SR (macrophage scavenger receptor), substrate for AR (adenosine receptor), RAP (receptor-associated protein), IL17, IL22, or protein analogs thereof 12 nucleic acids including, but not limited to, a gene, vector, si-RNA, or micro-RNA 13 covalently bound to biodegradable nanoparticles, such as polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (PACA-NPs), wherein the PACA nanoparticles are synthesized from a substituted surfactant, wherein the surfactant is dextran, polyethylene glycol, heparin, and derivatives thereof; wherein the substitution is that of an amino group, thiol group, aldehydic group, —CH2COOH group, with or without appropriate protection, for subsequent covalent conjugation of the said polypeptide

Variants in Table 1 include mutants of the peptides, proteins, and nucleic acid sequences. The variants may include a bifunctional linking moiety including, but not limited to, peptides, such as glycyl-tyrosyl-glycyl-glycyl-arginine (SEQ ID NO: 12); tyramine-cellobiose (Formula 2); Sulfo-SMCC; NHS—(CH₂—CH₂—O)n-Mal (wherein n=1-100, NHS stands for N-hydroxysuccinimide, and Mal stands for maleimido group); Succinimidyl-3 (4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate; (3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionyl-carbonylhydrazide; EDTA (ethylenedinitrilotetraaceticacid); DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) and DTPA analogs (Formula 3); NTA (N,N′,N″-triacetic acid); chelating agents such as desferroxamine (DFA) and bifunctional linker analogs thereof. EDTA derivatives include 1-(p-bromoacetamidophenyl)-EDTA, 1-(p-benzenediazonium)-EDTA, 1-(p-bromoacetamindophenyl)-EDTA, 1(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-EDTA, or 1-(p-succinimidyl-benzyl)-EDTA.

D. Peptide Compositions of Structure 2 in FIG. 2

The invention in which one or more variable antigen-binding domains (from camelid Vab, shark V-NAR, or a combination thereof) of heavy-chain polypeptides are chemically or enzymatically linked together through a hinge region (HR), a non-peptidyl linker (such as a PEG linker), or combination thereof, to a constant domain CH1, CH2 or CH3 of human IgG, CH2 or CH3 camelid IgG, or CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, or CH5 shark IgNAR to form a bivalent Vab domains of single-domain heavy-chain only antibodies of the general structure of structure 2 in FIG. 2. Exemplary variants of the “R1,” “R2,” “R3,” “L1,” “L2,” “R4,” “R5,” “X,” and “Y” groups in structure 1 from FIG. 2 are listed in Tables 2-6.

TABLE 2 Variants of R1 or R2 from Structure 2 in FIG. 2 R1 or R2 Variant Description 1 All or a part of a variable antigen-binding domain of a single-domain antibody(Vab-sdAb) for an antigen, where the Vab is derived from camelid Vab, shark V—NAR, or a combination thereof 2 a Constant domain 1 (CH1) of Hu-IgG 3 a Constant domain 2 (CH2) of Hu-IgG 4 a Constant domain 3 (CH3) of Hu-IgG 6 a Constant domain 2 (CH2) of camelid-IgG 7 a Constant domain 3 (CH3) of camelid-IgG 8 a Constant domain 1 (CH1) of shark-IgNAR 9 a Constant domain 2 (CH2) of shark-IgNAR 10 a Constant domain 3 (CH3) of shark-IgNAR 11 a Constant domain 4 (CH4) of shark-IgNAR 12 a Constant domain 5 (CH5) of shark-IgNAR Variants include mutants of the constant domains. At least R1 or R2 = 1.

TABLE 3 Variants of R3 from Structure 2 in FIG. 2 R3 Variant Description 1 a Constant domain 1 (CH1) of Hu-IgG 2 a Constant domain 2 (CH2) of Hu-IgG 3 a Constant domain 3 (CH3) of Hu-IgG 4 a Constant domain 2 (CH2) of camelid-IgG 5 a Constant domain 3 (CH3) of camelid-IgG 6 a Constant domain 1 (CH1) of shark-IgNAR 7 a Constant domain 2 (CH2) of shark-IgNAR 8 a Constant domain 3 (CH3) of shark-IgNAR 9 a Constant domain 4 (CH4) of shark-IgNAR 10 a Constant domain 5 (CH5) of shark-IgNAR Variants include mutants of the constant domains.

TABLE 4 Variants of L1 or L2 from Structure 2 in FIG. 2 L1 or L2 Variant Description 1 a hinge-region of a sdAb comprising of up to 35 amino acids, wherein the amino acid sequence is EPKIPQPQPKPQPQPQPQPKPQPKPEPECTCPKCP (SEQ ID NO: 13) or a portion thereof 2 a linker up to 20 nm long in length, wherein the linker is comprised of polyethylene glycol (CH₂—CH₂—O))_(n) and n = 5-70 3 a linker comprising from a group consisting of NHS—(CH₂—CH₂—O)n-Mal, wherein n = 1-100, NHS stands for N-hydroxysuccinimide, and Mal stands for maleimido group; Succinimidyl-3 (4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate; (3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionyl-carbonylhydrazide; EDTA (ethylenedinitrilotetraaceticacid), DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), or NTA (N,N′,N″-triacetic acid) 4 alkoxy, alkyl, peptidyl, nucleic acid, unsaturated aliphatic chains or combinations thereof Variants include mutants of the constant domains.

TABLE 5 Variants of R4 or R5 from Structure 2 in FIG. 2 R4 or R5 Variant Description 1 H 2 a detectable label 3 a short-lived radioisotope including, but not limited to, as ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ⁷⁷Br, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁹⁷Ru, ⁹⁹Tc, ¹¹¹In or ⁸⁹Zr introduced either using a reagent such as ¹²⁴I-Bolton Hunker or ¹²⁴I—SIB or a metal chelator 4 a long-lived radionisotope including, but not limited to, as ¹³¹I, ²¹¹At, ³²P ⁴⁷Sc, ⁶⁷Cu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁴⁰ la, ¹¹¹Ag, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ¹⁰⁹Pd, or ¹⁹⁹Au for therapeutic applications, with or without a labeling entity such as a bifunctional reagent (Bolton Hunter or SIB reagent) or a bifunctional chelating agent between the polypeptide and the radionuclide 5 NH—CO—C₆H₄-Iodine-124, 125, 111, 113, 112, or 131 6 a fluorophore including, but no limited to, FITC and other fluorescein derivatives, Texas-Red, rhodamine, Cy3, Cy5, thioflavin dyes, AlexaFluor, 1,4-Bis(4′-aminostyryl)-2-dimethoxy-benzene (BDB; Formula 1a), [5′-(4-methoxyphenyl)[2,2′-bithiophen]-5yl]methylene]- propanedinitrile (Formula 1b) [5′-(4-methoxyphenyl)[2,2′-bithiopehen]- 5yl]-aldehyde (Formula 1c), or fluorophore analogs thereof 7 a therapeutic agent, toxin, hormone, or peptide 8 a protein, such as an enzyme 9 an antibody, the Fc region of IgGs, sd-insulin-Ab 1 (Structure 1 in FIG. 2) sd-insulin-Ab 2 (Structure 2 in FIG. 2), sd-transferrin-Ab 1, or sd- transferrin-Ab 2 10 biotin, digoxegenin, avidin, streptavidin 11 fused or covalently bound to a protein that recognizes or binds to the receptors on endothelial cells that form the BBB, including, but not limited to, insulin, transferrin, Apo-B, Apo-E, such as Apo-E4, Apo-E Receptor Binding Fragment, FC5, FC44, substrate for RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products), substrate for SR (macrophage scavenger receptor), substrate for AR (adenosine receptor), RAP (receptor-associated protein), IL17, IL22, or protein analogs thereof 12 nucleic acids including, but not limited to, a gene, vector, si-RNA, or micro-RNA 13 covalently bound to biodegradable nanoparticles, such as polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (PACA-NPs), wherein the PACA nanoparticles are synthesized from a substituted surfactant, wherein the surfactant is dextran, polyethylene glycol, heparin, and derivatives thereof; wherein the substitution is that of an amino group, thiol group, aldehydic group, —CH2COOH group, with or without appropriate protection, for subsequent covalent conjugation of the said polypeptide

Variants include mutants of the peptides, proteins, and nucleic acid sequences. The variants may include a bifunctional linking moiety including, but not limited to, peptides, such as glycyl-tyrosyl-glycyl-glycyl-arginine (SEQ ID NO: 12); tyramine-cellobiose (Formula 2); Sulfo-SMCC; NHS—(CH₂—CH₂—O)n-Mal (wherein n=1-100, NHS stands for N-hydroxysuccinimide, and Mal stands for maleimido group); Succinimidyl-3 (4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate; (3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl-carbonylhydrazide; EDTA (ethylenedinitrilotetraaceticacid); DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) and DTPA analogs (Formula 3); NTA (N,N′,N″-triacetic acid); chelating agents such as desferroxamine (DFA) and bifunctional linker analogs thereof. EDTA derivatives include 1-(p-bromoacetamidophenyl)-EDTA, 1-(p-benzenediazonium)-EDTA, 1-(p-bromoacetamindophenyl)-EDTA, 1(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-EDTA, or 1-(p-succinimidyl-benzyl)-EDTA.

TABLE 6 Variants of X or Y from Structure 2 in FIG. 2 X or Y Variant Description 1 a bifunctional peptidyl, alkyl-, alkoxy-, aromatic, nucleotide linker or a combination thereof E. Peptide Nanoparticle Compositions of Structures 1 and 2 in FIG. 2

The invention in which the single-domain antibody of structure 1 or 2 in FIG. 2 is covalently linked to biodegradable nanoparticles, which are comprised of a surfactant, ploymerizable monomeric entity, wherein surfactant is carrying a functionally active group such as amino group, aldehyde group, thiol group, —CH2-COOH group, succinic anhydride group or other group capable of forming a covalent bond between the nanoparticles and the peptide compositions of structure 1 in FIG. 2 and structure 2 in FIG. 2 and analogs thereof.

Structure 1 in FIG. 2 (at R) and structure 2 in FIG. 2 (at R4 and/or R5) may be conjugated to biodegradable nanoparticles. Wherein the nanoparticles are synthesized by the chemical reaction of biodegradable alkylcyanoacrylate with a substituted polymer such as dextran, heparin, polyethylene glycol, and the like; wherein the substitution is that of a group, free or protected, capable of forming a covalent bond with the native and/or modified single-domain antibody.

Wherein, in Formula 4, X═—NH, S, CHO, phosphate, thiophosphate, or phosphonate; and wherein, in Formula 4, Y=a peptide composition of structure 1 in FIG. 2 or a peptide composition 2 in FIG. 2, or combinations and variants of structures 1 and 2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the tight junctions in the endothelial cell membrane that form the barrier between the blood and the brain.

FIG. 2 depicts generic blood-brain permeable peptide composition structures 1 and 2 where each structure contains at least one Vab domain and each Vab domain was derived from a camelid Vab, shark V-NAR, or a combination thereof, from one or more sdAbs for an antigen.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of affinity-purified Aβ-sdAb 1a on an SDS-PAGE gel.

FIG. 4 depicts the synthetic sequence of conjugating two peptides by native chemical ligation.

FIG. 5 depicts the synthetic sequence of conjugating two peptides by malemido and thiol groups.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the ELISA results of Aβ-sdAb 1a and Pierce's Aβ-mAb binding affinity to the Aβ-42 peptide as measured by the OD450 readings of the chromogenic yellow color generated by the reaction of the HRP secondary antibody with the TMB substrate.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of the immunostaining results of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of paraffin embedded brain tissues from the APP transgenic mouse (FIG. 7A left upper two frames) and Alzheimer's patient (FIG. 7A lower two frames); with and without primary Aβ-sdAb (FIG. 7A frames), and staining of the same tissues with Thioflavin-S dye (FIG. 7B frames).

FIG. 8 depicts the BBB permeability tests for Aβ-sdAb 1a (FIG. 2, Structure 1, Table 1, Variant: R=1) and peptide composition 2a (single-chain of Aβ-sdAb 1a; FIG. 2, Structure 2, Tables 2-6, variant: R1=1, R2=4, R3=2, L1=1, L2=1, R4=1, R5=1, X=1, Y=1) in mice.

FIG. 9 is photographs of the immunostaining results from blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability studies of peptide composition 2a compared to Aβ-Mouse-IgG in the live APP transgenic mice injected in their tails with peptide composition 2a or Aβ-Mouse-IgG.

FIG. 10 is a graph of the serum retention time of the peptide composition 2a in Aβ-mice.

FIG. 11 depicts the generic synthetic sequence of synthesizing maleimido derivatized peptide composition 3 from peptide composition 2 (structure 2 in FIG. 2) and synthesizing thiolated dextran-PBCA-nanoparticles 6 from dextran 4.

FIG. 12 depicts the generic conjugation, after the sequence in FIG. 11, of maleimido-peptide composition 3 to thiol-functionalized dextran-coated PBCA-nanoparticles 6, forming covalently-coated peptide composition 2-nanoparticle 7.

FIG. 13 depicts the generic synthetic sequence of synthesizing maleimido derivitized-sdAb 8 from sd-Ab 1 (structure 1 in FIG. 2) and synthesizing thiolated dextran-PBCA-nanoparticles 6 from dextran 4.

FIG. 14 depicts the generic conjugation, after the sequence in FIG. 13, of maleimido-sdAb 8 to thiol-functionalized dextran-coated PBCA-nanoparticles 6, forming covalently-coated sdAb-nanoparticle 9.

FIG. 15 is a structure of covalently-coated sdAb-nanoparticle 9 (structure 1 in FIG. 2) that is comprised of a maleimodio linker to form covalently-coated sdAb-nanoparticle 9 conjugated to an amino-dextran-coated-PBCA-nanoparticle 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. The present technology is also illustrated by the examples herein, which should not be construed as limiting in any way.

A. Isolation of Aβ-Single-Domain Antibody 1A (Aβ-sdAb 1A, Structure 1 in FIG. 2)

1. Immunization of Camelids with Aβ1-35 Peptide

All animals (llamas) were treated following NIH guidelines. First, the animals were given a complete physical examination by our veterinarian, Dr. Linda Byer, who also drew some pre-immunization blood. Immunization was then started with Aβ₁₋₃₅ synthetic peptide (200 ug) in Gerbu Pharma Adjuvant (1 ml). One month after the initial priming injection, six biweekly boosters were administered at 200 ug/injection. After the fourth booster, about 20 ml blood was drawn and serum examined for antibody titer with antigen coated 96-well ELISA plate. After immunization, ˜200 ml blood was drawn from the animal. Half of the blood was used to isolate single-domain Aβ-antibody (polyclonal) with the methods below in Sections A.2-4. The second half of the blood was used to isolate peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) to prepare total RNA followed by its reverse transcription to cDNA, which was then ligated into the phage vector to generate phage-display cDNA library (Section D).

2. Crude Isolation of Aβ-sdAb 1a from Camelid Serum

After immunization, 100 ml from each blood sample drawn was processed to fractionate sdAbs (MW: ˜90 KDa) from the classical antibodies (MW: ˜160 KDa). Briefly, the serum (˜50 ml) was concentrated on an Millipore-Amicon Ultra-15 Concentrator, molecular weight cutoff 50 KDa, by spinning the device at 4000 g, until most of the low molecular weight species passed through the membrane. The thick viscous yellow retentate (˜25 ml) was extracted with chloroform (3×25 ml) to remove fatty substances, which had contributed to the viscosity of the retentate. The resulting crude product (2×10 ml) was size fractionated on Superdex-200 (2.5 cm×100 cm) using 1×PBS as eluant. The fractions were monitored by reading OD₂₈₀ on a Beckman DU-640 Spectrophotometer. After examining the fractions on a 12% SDS-PAGE gel, the fractions whose products correspond to the molecular weight of ˜90 KDa were pooled, concentrated and the protein concentration was measured by checking its OD₂₈₀.

3. Generation of an Affinity Column for Enrichment of Aβ-sdAb 1a

10 mg of immunogen Aβ1-35, dissolved in 5 ml of conjugation buffer, 0.1 M NaHCO₃/0.15M NaCl, pH 8.5, was conjugated with cyanogen-bromide activated Sepharose (2 gm), which had been washed with 200 ml of ice-cold 1 mM HCl. The reaction was allowed to proceed for 2 hours while the resin was allowed to gently rock on a rocker. After centrifugation, the supernatant of the reaction mixture was examined by its OD₂₈₀ reading, which indicated that essentially all of the immunogen had been consumed. The resin was then washed with pH 8.5 conjugation buffer (3×20 ml), and then blocked with 1 M Tris.HCl, pH 8.3 (10 ml), room temperature for 2 hours. After washing the resin with 0.1 M NaHCO₃/0.5M NaCl, pH 8.5, the resin was washed with 0.1 M sodium citrate (50 ml), pH 2.8 and equilibrated with 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, before using the resin for affinity purification.

4. Affinity Purification of Aβ-sdAb 1a

The crude mixture of sdAbs obtained after size fractionation on Superdex-200, which was more than 98% free of full-length conventional IgGs, was allowed to incubate with the affinity column in 1×PBS, at room temperature for one hour. After one hour, the unbound material was allowed to drain through the column and the column washed with PBS until all the unbound proteins had been washed off the column. The bound Aβ-sdAb was eluted off the column with pH 2.8 buffer (0.1 M sodium citrate, 0.2 um filtered). The eluant was adjusted to pH 7.2 by adding 1 M Tris.HCl, pH 9.0, and concentrated on Millipore-Amicon Ultra-15 concentrators (30 KDa molecular weight cutoff). The retentate was buffer exchanged to 1×PBS and stored at −20° C. to obtain 1.65 mg of Aβ-sdAb 1a (FIG. 2, Structure 1, Table 1, Variant: R=1). Its protein concentration was determined using Pierce's BCA Protein Assay Kit. The SDS-PAGE analysis of the affinity purified Aβ-sdAb 1a is in FIG. 3. About 10 ug of the Aβ-sdAb 1a after each step was electrophoressed on 12% SDS-PAGE gel after loading in SDS-loading buffer. The electrophoresis was performed at 100 volts for one hour, the gel was stained in 0.04% Coomassie Blue stain for 30 minutes at room temperature (RT). Coomassie blue stained SDS-PAGE (12%) protein gel of sequentially purified Aβ-sdAb 1a, panel D: 1^(st) and 2^(nd) purifications were on Superdex-200; 3^(rd) purification was done by affinity chromatography.

B. Synthesis of Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 2A and Epitope Mapping of Peptide Composition 2A

1. Isolation of Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 2a from Aβ-sdAb 1a

1.0 mg of Aβ-sd-Ab 1a was dissolved in 400 ul of pH 7.4 PBS. To this solution was added 100 ul of 100 mM triethoxy carboxyl-phospine (TCEP) in PBS to obtain a final concentration of 20 mM. The reaction mixture was incubated at 4° C. for 12-15 hours when gel electrophoresis (10% SDS-PAGE) showed a low molecular weight species with molecular weight of ˜50 KDa. This product peptide composition 2a (single chain of Aβ-sdAb 1a) was isolated by gel filtration and tested by Western and ELISA.

2. Epitope Mapping of Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 2a

96-Well microplates (A1-A12 through G1-12 wells) were coated in triplicate with 600 ng per well of the following synthetic amyloid-peptide segments of Aβ1-42 peptide in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Synthetic amyloid-peptide segments of Aβ1-42 peptide Peptide segment Amino acid positions 1  1-16 2  5-20 3  9-24 4 13-28 5 17-32 6 21-37 7 25-41 8 29-42

After coating the plate at 4° C. for 12 hours, the antigens were discarded and the wells washed with deionized water (3×). The plate was blocked with 1% BSA in 50 mM Tris/150 mM NaCl, pH 7.5 for one hour. At the end of one hour, single-chain Aβ-sdAb, 2a, 1.0 ug diluted to 2500 ul with 1% BSA/Tris buffer was added to the top row (100 ul per well in triplicates). After serial dilution all the way to 1:320000 ul, the plate was incubated with gentle shaking at room-temperature for 2 hours. At the end of 2 hour incubation, the plate was washed three times, 250 ul per well, with 0.05% tween-20/PBS. After washing, the wells were incubated with 100 ul per well of goat-anti-llama-IgG-HRP conjugate (Bethyl Labs, Texas) 1.0 ug diluted to 10 ml of 1% BSA in PBS. After one hour incubation, the plate was washed with 0.05% Tween as above. The washed well were treated with 100 ul of TMB substrate and the plate read at 370 nm. The highest antibody titer was detected with the peptide 1-16 amino acid long.

Subsequently, two synthetic peptide were synthesized: the 1-8 and 9-16 peptides from the amyloid beta peptide and the above ELISA was again repeated with the plate coated with 600 ng of each of the peptide in triplicates. This time the peptide of the 9-16 amino acids gave the highest antibody titer, and no reaction took place with the sequence 1-8 mer. The epitope is between 9 to 16 amino acids with the following sequence: G Y E V H H Q K (SEQ ID NO: 14).

C. Synthesis of Peptide Composition Structure 2 in FIG. 2 Derivatives

1. Protease Digestion of Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 2a to Obtain Aβ-Vab-HR (Aβ-Vab with L1 or L2 Linker Variant)

Generation of Sepharose-Endoproteinase Glu-C Conjugate. Endoproteinase Glu-C (Worthington Biochemical Corporation), 4 mg, was conjugated to 250 mg of CNBr-activated Sepaharose (GE Healthcare, catalogue #17-0430-1) in pH 8.5 0.1 M NaHCO₃/0.5M NaCl in 1×10 cm long spin fitted with a medium fritted disc, as described in Section A.3: Generation of an Affinity Column for Enrichmant of Aβ-sdAb 1a. After conjugation, any unbound Glu-C proteinase was removed by extensive washing of Sepharose and the column was stored in 0.1% NaN₃/PBS until used. The Sepharose had swollen to about an 0.8 ml volume.

Digestion of Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 2a and Isolation of Aβ-Vab-HR. Aβ-sdAb 2a (1 mg, ˜11 nmols) was dissolved in 1.0 ml of pH 7.5 0.1 M NaHCO₃ and added to the 0.8 ml of Sepharose-Glu-C conjugate. The reaction mixture was gently rocked on a rocker for 4 hours and the contents were collected by draining the column and washing it with 4 ml of the conjugation buffer, 0.1 M NaHCO₃, pH 7.5. The combined flowthrough was passed through Aβ₁₋₃₅-affinity column generated in Section A.3. After washing off the unbound material, the bound Aβ-Vab-HR (HR=hinge region) from single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a was eluted with pH 2.8 0.1 M sodium citrate and the product buffer exchanged to 1×PBS, pH 7.4. It was tested by ELISA.

2. Methods for Linking Aβ-Vab-HR to Antibody Constant Domains

General Method for Expression of Engineered Human Antibody Constant Domains, CH1, CH2 and CH3. Expression of engineered human constant domains CH1, CH2 and CH3 was accomplished by buying the commercially available plasmid, pFUSE-CHIg (Invitrogen: pFUSE-CHIg-hG1, pFUSE-CHIg-hG2, or pFUSE-CHIg-hG3), and using them each for transformation of E. coli strain HB2151 cells. The cultures were grown in SB media at 37° C. until an optical density of ˜0.7 was obtained. Expression was then induced with 1 mM IPTG (isopropyl-1-thio-b-D-galactopyranoside) at 37° C. for 15-16 hours. The bacterial cells were harvested and resuspended in a culture medium containing 10% of 50 mM Tris.HCl, 450 mM NaCl, pH 8.0. Polymyxin B sulfate (PMS) was added to the culture medium, 1:1000 volume of PMS: culture volume. After centrifuging the cell lysate at 15000 RPM for 45 minutes at 4° C., the supernatant was purified by HiTrap Ni-NTA column and tested for the respective expressed human constant domain by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.

General Method for Native Chemical Ligation of Aβ-Vab-HR to Human Constant Domain. For native chemical ligation (FIG. 4), an unprotected peptide-alpha-carboxy thioester (peptide 1) was reacted with a second peptide (peptide 2) containing an N-terminal cysteine residue to form a natural peptide linkage between Aβ-Vab-HR and constant domain CH1 or CH2 or CH3. Aβ-Vab-HR can be modified to be peptide 1 or peptide 2. The CH1 CH2, or CH3 domain is then modified to be the recipricol peptide 2 or peptide 1. After the reaction, the Aβ-Vab-PEG-Human CH1, CH2, or CH3 was purified by size exclusion chromatography.

General Method for Maleimido-thiol Conjugation Chemical Linkage of Aβ-Vab-HR to Human Constant Domain. For the maleimido-thiol conjugation reaction (FIG. 5), a thiolated peptide 2 conjugates to a maleimido-derivativized peptide 1 to create aliphatic linker between Aβ-Vab-HR and a CH1, CH2, or CH3 domain. Aβ-Vab-HR can be modified to be peptide 1 or peptide 2. The CH1, CH2, or CH3 domain is then modified to be the recipricol peptide 2 or peptide 1. Peptide 1 was converted into a maleimido peptide by reacting in with 20-fold excess of commercial NHS-PEG-Mal (MW: 3000 Da) in pH 7.0 MOPS buffer (0.1 M MOPS/0.15 M NaCl) for one hour at room temperature. After the reaction, excess PEGreagent was removed by dialysis on Vivaspin-20 column with a MWCO: 10 KDa. To generate compatible reacting group, peptide 2 was thiolated with commercial Traut's reagent to obtain thiolated peptide 2. 1.2 molar equivalent of thiolated peptide 2 which was reacted with maleimido derivatized peptide 1 at pH 6.8 at room temperature for 2 hours. After the reaction, the Aβ-Vab-PEG-Human CH1, CH2, or CH3 was purified by size exclusion chromatography.

D. Phage-Display cDNA Library Generation of Aβ-sdAb 1

1. Cloning of cDNA Encoding the Aβ-sdAb 1a: mRNA Isolation and Reverse Transcription

The isolation of total RNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from 100 ml blood samples from immunized animals and subsequent reverse transcription to cDNA was done using commercial kits, such as PAXgene Blood RNA Tubes and Blood RNA Kit system (Qiagen, Mississauga, ON).

2. PCR Amplification of cDNA and Construction of Expression Vector

Amplification of cDNA was done using PCR with primers SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2. The second round of PCR amplification was done using primers with built-in restriction enzyme sites (SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4) for insertion into pHEN4 phagemid, which was used to transform bacterial cells (WK6 E. coli). The clones were sequenced by the dideoxy sequencing method. Sequences were then translated so that they can be assigned to well defined domains of the sdAb.

3. General Method for Expression and Purification of Aβ-sdAb 1

The bacterial cells containing the proper plasmids were grown, and expression of the recombinant proteins induced with 1 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The periplasmic proteins were extracted by osmotic shock in the presence of protease inhibitors [(4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF) and leupeptin)], and recombinant protein purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA Superflow, Qiagen). The MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of Aβ-sdAb 1a in sinapinic acid displayed a molecular ion at m/e 84873.5842. The molecular weight was validated by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The purified Aβ-sdAb 1a was further characterized by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining of tissues from transgenic mice and human patients.

4. ELISA Results for Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 1a

FIG. 6 depicts the results of ELISA performed in Pierce's MaxiSorp plate, which had been coated with 500 ng/well of Aβ-42 peptide at pH 9.5 overnight at room temperature. After washing the plate with water, the antigen coated wells were blocked with 1% BSA and subsequently treated with identical concentrations of Aβ-sdAb 1a and mouse-Aβ-mAb for the same length of time and temperature (2 hours at RT). Detection was done using HRP labeled secondary antibody and TMB as a substrate. The blue color generated by HRP reaction was quenched with 1.0 M HCl and OD450 recorded on Molecular Devices SpectraMax Plus plate reader. FIG. 6 is the plot of OD450 readings of the chromogenic yellow color generated by the reaction of the substrate with the HRP-enzyme. The single-domain antibody 1a clearly outperformed the commercial Aβ-mouse-mAb.

E. Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Results of Peptide Compositions 1A and 2A in Alzheimer's Disease Models

1. Detection of Amyloid Plaque in Transgenic Mouse and Human Alzheimer's Patients with Peptide Composition 2a in Ex-Vivo Experiments

The specificity of Aβ-sdAb for Aβ was tested by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of paraffin embedded brain tissues from the APP transgenic mouse (FIG. 7A upper two frames) and Alzheimer's patient (FIG. 7A lower two frames), with and without primary Aβ-sdAb. The same tissues were stained with Thioflavin-S dye (FIG. 7B). Paraffin tissues were cut in a microtome to the thickness of 5 microns, mounted on APES coated slides, dried at room temperature (RT) for 24 hours, and then deparaffinized using xylene and ethanol. Washed slides were blocked in 10% normal serum with 1% BSA (2 hours at RT), and treated with single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a in PBS containing 1% BSA (1:100 dilution, overnight at 4° C.). After washing slides with 0.1% Triton X-100, endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 0.3% hydrogen peroxide, followed by treatment with biotinylated goat-anti-llama-IgG. Detection was done with streptavidin-HRP and diaminobenzidine as HRP substrate.

2. Demonstration of BBB Permeability of Aβ-Vab Peptide Compositions 1a and 2a in Alzheimer's-Like Transgenic Mice

We tested the BBB permeability of Aβ-sdAb 1a and single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a. The single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a had been prepared by the TCEP (triethoxy-phosphine) reduction of Aβ-sdAb 1a above in Section B.1. To demonstrate BBB penetration, 60 ug of Aβ-sdAb 1a or single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a was injected in the tail vein (FIG. 8) of the live transgenic mice (J9 strain: PDGF-APP-SW-Ind; APP: amyloid precursor protein; SW and Ind stand for Swedish and Indiana mutations in APP), according to the protocol outlined below (Table 8). The commercial mouse-Aβ-mAb was also used for comparative purposes. Non-transgenic mice were used as negative controls.

TABLE 8 Protocol for Demonstrating BBB Permeability Group Mouse Antibody Time Number of mice 1 APP tg mice ICBI-antibody  4 h 6 2 APP tg mice ICBI-antibody 24 h 6 3 APP tg mice Mouse-Ab-IgG  4 h 6 4 APP tg mice Mouse-Ab-IgG 24 h 6 5 Non-tg control mice ICBI-antibody  4 h 3 6 Non-tg control mice ICBI-antibody 24 h 3 7 Non-tg control mice Mouse-Ab-IgG  4 h 3 8 Non-tg control mice Mouse-Ab-IgG 24 h 3 APP = Amyloid precurson protein. Route = Tail vein, Dose = 60 ug, Treatment and duration = variable.

Mice were sacrificed 4 hours and 24 hours after the injection and their brains serially sectioned. The two hemispheres were separated; the left hemisphere was rapidly snap frozen on dry ice (2 to 5 min) and stored at −80° C.; the right hemisphere was immersed in a cold 4% paraformaldhehyde fixative solution.

3. Neuropathological Analysis

The fixed half brain was serially sectioned sagitally with the vibratome at 40 um and stored at −20° C. in cryoprotective medium. Sections were immunostained with biotinylated anti-llama-IgG1 and detected with streptavidin-HRP using an enzyme substrate, followed by imaging with the laser confocal microscope (FIG. 9). Co-localization studies between llama IgG and Aβ-protein were also performed by staining the tissues with Thioflavin-S dye. Digital images were analyzed with the ImageQuant program to assess numbers of lesions.

4. Results of Blood-Brain Permeability of Peptide Compositions

All six transgenic mice analyzed 24 hours after a single low dose injection of 60 ug amyloid sd-antibody displayed labeling of amyloid-plaque in their central nervous system. The data shown in FIG. 9 represents data obtained only with single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a. Binding of peptide compositions 1a and 2a to amyloid plaque was only detected in the APP transgenic mice, not in non-transgenic mice. More importantly, Aβ-sd-antibodies 1a and 2a labeled both the soluble/diffusible plaque and insoluble plaque, while Thioflavin-S dye labeled primarily the insoluble plaque. Soluble plaque is the one responsible for cognitive decline from Alzheimer's Disease, not the insoluble plaque, which is labeled by other neuroimaging agents such as Pittsburgh Compound B and ¹⁸F-Flutemetmol. The single-chain sdAb 2a stained about 10% of all the soluble and insoluble plaque in the mouse brain, while Aβ-sdAb 1a labeled about 3.6% of the total plaque in the same amount of time.

5. Pharmacokinetics Study of Single-Chain Aβ-sdAb 2a for Alzheimer's Disease in Mice

A pharmacokinetics (PK) study of the single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a was conducted in collaboration with Biotox Sciences, San Diego. In this study, three groups of mice (average weight: ˜25 g) were injected in the tail vein with 60 ug of single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a in 200 ul of PBS buffer. At a predetermined timepoint, blood was drawn from the animals the the serum was analyzed for the concentration of the single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a by ELISA. All three sets of animals showed identical clearance of the single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a from the blood (FIG. 10). FIG. 10 is a graph of the serum retention time of the single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a in Aβ-mice. The X-axis represents time in hours and the Y-axis concentration of single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a per ml of serum. The two broken lines indicate non-linearity in the X-axis. Clearance of amyloid-plaque by binding to mouse-Aβ-mAb and subsequent phagocytosis has been reported in the literature [Wang, Y-J, et al., Clearance of amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease: progress, problems and perspectives, Drug Discovery Today, 11, 931 (2006)].

Although at 24 h the serum concentration of 2a in FIG. 10 dropped to about half compared to what it was at 0.5 hour, its levels stayed at ˜40% for 7 days, suggesting that the single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a has a serum life of at least 7 days and, therefore, a remarkable potential for developing diagnostic and long-acting therapeutic agents. The slow decrease in serum concentrations of the single-chain Aβ-sdAb 2a in the first 24 h could be attributed to its binding with the amyloid-peptide.

F. Synthesis of Antibody-Coated Nano-Particles with Peptide Compositions 1 and 2 from FIG. 2

1. Synthesis of Polybuytcyanoacrylate (PBCA) Naoparticles 5

To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this invention describes the synthesis of biodegradable polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles coated with aminated dextran and peptide compositions 1 and 2 in FIG. 2. The synthetic steps are outlined in FIGS. 11-14. To a stirring solution of aminated dextran 4 (1.0 gm) in 100 ml of 10 mM HCl (pH 2.5) was slowly added 1 ml of butylcyanoacrylate (BCA) (FIG. 11 and FIG. 13). The reaction mixture was allowed to stir at RT for 4 hours to obtain a white colloidal suspension, which was carefully neutralized with 0.1 M NaHCO₃ solution to pH 7.0. This colloidal suspension was filtered through 100 um glass-fiber filter to remove large particles. The filtrate was split into 50 ml centrifuge tubes and spun at 10,000 RPM for 45 minutes. After discarding the supernantant, the particles were washed several times with deionized water, centrifuging the particles and discarding the supernatant until no more white residue was seen in the supernatant. The resulting PBCA particles, 5, were stored in 0.01% NaN₃/PBS at 4° C. (FIG. 11 and FIG. 13).

2. Synthesis of Thiolated PBCA Naoparticles 6

PBCA particles 5 were washed with 50 mM MOPS buffer, pH 7.0, to remove NaN₃. The particles were then treated 50 mM Traut's regeant in MOPS buffer for one hour to synthesize thiolated PBCA nanoparticles 6 (FIG. 11 and FIG. 13). The particles were then repeatedly washed to remove the unreacted Traut's reagent.

3. Synthesis of Peptide Composition Maleimido Derivatives 3 and 8

Purified peptide composition 1a (1 mg, 12.5 nM) was dissolved in 50 mM MOPS buffer, pH 7.0. It was treated with NHS-PEG-Mal (MW: 3000 Da) (250 nM) at RT for 1 hour (FIG. 12). The reaction was concentrated on Amicon-Centricon Concentrators (MW Cutoff: 30 KDa) to remove hydrolyzed and unconjugated excess NHS-PEG-Mal. The purified pegylated derivative 8 was characterized by MALDI-MS and 12% SDS-PAGE gel. A similar process can be used to convert peptide composition 2 in FIG. 2 into the pegylated derivative 3 (FIG. 11).

4. Synthesis of Covalently Conjugated Peptide Composition Nanoparticles 7 and 9

The conjugation of maleimido-Aβ-sdAb 8 with thiolated PBCA nanoparticles 6 was carried out at pH 7.0 in 50 mM MOPS buffer in the presence of 5 mM EDTA for 4 hours at RT (FIG. 14). The resulting PBCA nanoparticles 9 were purified by washing off (5×50 ml deionized water) the unreacted maleimido antibody 3. The particles were stored in deionized water at 4° C. until used. A similar process can be used to convert pegylated derivative 3 and thiolated PBCA nanoparticles 6 into PBCA nanoparticles 7 (FIG. 12).

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods, processes and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, processes, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications could be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising: a polypeptide comprising the formula Vab1-L1-X-R3-Y-L2-Vab2, wherein the Vab1 and Vab2 each independently comprises a variable antigen-binding domain from a camelid single-domain heavy chain antibody, wherein at least one of the variable antigen-binding domains comprises amino acids 1-127 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 and is capable of binding to an amyloid-beta peptide; wherein L1 and L2 each comprise a hinge region from a camelid single-domain heavy-chain only antibody; wherein a nanoparticle comprising polybutylcyanoacrylate and dextran is covalently linked to at least one of L1 and L2; and wherein X and Y are bifunctional linkers, selected from a maleimido-thiol conjugate and polyethylene glycol; wherein R3 comprises at least one constant domain of human IgG CH2 or CH3 domain.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle has a molecular weight of about 70 kDa.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least one of L1 and L2 is covalently conjugated to the label selected from the group consisting of a radioisotope, a fluorophores, a toxin, biotin, digoxigenin, avidin, and streptavidin.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein a hinge region corresponds to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 13. 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least one of L1 and L2 is covalently conjugated to —NH—C(═NH₂.HCl)—CH₂CH₂CH₂—S-Maleimide-PEG-CONH—, which in turn is conjugated to a nanoparticle. 